Becoming a Member

The members of Local 479 thank you for considering joining our Local. Should you have questions that have not been addressed on this page, feel free to contact Member Services via telephone at (404) 361-5676, or in person during regular business hours of 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday (please call ahead to make sure that a representative will be available to meet with you).

Any Georgia or Alabama resident may petition to join our local as a new member or by transfer from from a different IA local.  Employment in the industry is reliant upon your individual skills, the effort you put into building personal business relationships, the strength (and accuracy) of your resume, and your overall reputation within the local community. 

It is for this reason that Local 479 strongly recommends that people who are considering submitting an application for membership have an existing relationship with a party that has indicated that they will be able to hire the new member for union work.

Benefits of Membership in a Union

One of the most important benefits people look for from an employer is a good healthcare and retirement plan – things that are frequently out of the reach of freelancers. For every union-negotiated project that you work on as a member of Local 479 the employer makes a contribution into funds for your healthcare and retirement. As employer contributions, these are personal benefits for which you will not be taxed.

The IATSE uses a company called the National Benefit Funds (NBF). The NBF is a non-profit company that administers the funds contributed by the employers on our behalf. A board of trustees that includes the IATSE and contributing employers, govern the NBF. It is a separate company than the IATSE union; our union has no affiliation with the NBF. Their website at www.iatsenbf.org is a very helpful resource for finding information about the benefits IATSE provides. All questions or problems concerning these benefits should be directed to the NBF by calling them at 1-800-456-FUND (3863).

Presently the NBF uses:

  • Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield to administer our health insurance plan
  • Principal to administer our retirement funds
  • Davis Vision to administer our vision plan
  • Delta Dental for our dental plan
  • CarelonRx for our prescription plan
  • Other Benefits of Local 479 Membership

An added benefit that is available only to members of Local 479 is a short-term / long-term disability program, administered through MetLife. Local 479 pays for all of our members in good standing to receive this benefit at zero cost to the member. Along with this benefit comes Short Term Disability (STD), Long Term Disability (LTD), and Basic Life Insurance coverage.

Beneficiaries

It’s important to nominate beneficiaries for the funds you accrue and provided in the section named Crew Central are forms that members should send in to the NBF and to the local to designate the recipients of these funds upon your death.

Membership Application Packet
The membership application packet is to be completed in its entirety, meeting all requirements. Do not print your packet double-sided. There is a check list in every application – please use it to make sure that you have provided all information that is needed to complete this process. Incomplete applications will NOT be accepted. A printed membership application packet may be obtained from stewards on active productions or from the Local 479 office between 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The address of the office is  4220 International Parkway, Atlanta, GA. 30354. You may also download a complete application from this page (note: do not print this document double-sided).

Requirements

  • $100 Application Fee (Non-Refundable)

  • $1400 Initiation Fee

  • All remaining Quarterly Dues for the current year.

  • If you are applying during the 4th Quarter of the year, you will also be asked to pay the Quarterly Dues for the upcoming year.

  • Any outstanding balances

  • If you DO NOT submit all fees with your application it will be considered incomplete. If you have any questions about how much is due with your application please call the office.

Proof of Residency Requirements
A valid copy of one the items from the following MUST be provided:

  • Valid Georgia or Alabama Drivers License with issue date of 18 months or longer, or

  • A valid State of Georgia or Alabama ID accompanied by a (MVR) motor vehicle report showing 18 months of residency, or

  • Valid Georgia or Alabama Drivers License accompanied by one of the following showing 18 months of residency:

    • Federal Tax Return

    • Vehicle Registration

    • Voter Registration

    • (MVR) motor vehicle report

After Submitting An Application
The current list of potential new members are submitted to our current membership for a vote in the next general membership meeting.

  • Applications turned in at least 15 days before the next General Membership Meeting shall go before the attending members for a vote.

  • General Membership meetings take place in: February, April, June, August, October and December.

  • Each pending member will be notified within five (5) days of the results of the vote.

  • Applicants who are not voted into membership will be notified in writing and a refund will be issued (with the exception of the non-refundable $100 application fee).

  • Refunded fees are processed within five (5) business days of the vote.

  • The Member Obligation (swear-in) shall be administered within ninety (90) days from the date of notice of acceptance into Local 479.

  • The pending member’s application may be declared null and void, with forfeiture of all monies paid, if the Member Obligation is not administered in time.

  • NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 4:00PM